Impact of morphological and motor dimensions on success of young male and female karateka.

The aim of this paper is to identify morphological and motor structures which determine the achievement of top results in karate in the age group of younger cadets. With this purpose, a set of 18 morphological measures and a set of 12 motor tests were used on a sample of 60 male and 51 female Croatian karateka aged 13 to 15. Different morphological structures were isolated by factor analysis according to gender. Two morphological factors in male karateka, named: ecto-mesomorphy and fat tissue. Three factors in female karateka, named: endo-mesomorphic somatotype, ecto-mesomorphic somatotype and transverse dimensionality of the skeleton, particularly of the hand and wrist. Also, different motor structures were isolated by factor analysis according to gender. In male karateka: the first factor responsible for cortical regulation of movement, the second one responsible for power-force regulation and the third one named precision. In female karateka: the first factor integrating regulators of speed, force, movement structures and muscle tone with synergetic regulation, the second one responsible for energy regulation integrating core strength and sprint, and the third one named precision. Latent structure of fighting efficiency in karate differs according to gender. Two morphological factors, namely force regulator and factor of cortical regulation of movement, and one morphological factor defined as ecto-mesomorphy factor have a significant impact on determining success in male karateka. In determining fighting efficiency of young female karateka, two motor factors have significant impact, namely: the first factor integrating regulators of speed, force and agility/coordination, accompanied by regulator of muscle tone and synergetic regulation, and the second factor of basic core strength which ensures the initial energy component in technique performance, particularly of kicks. Out of all morphological factors, transverse dimensionality of the skeleton, particularly of hand, significantly determines the fighting efficiency of young female karateka.